Green Lantern Lore Changes Forever, as Shocking Character Returns from The Dead with New Purpose

A fan-favorite Green Lantern is coming back from the grave, but they’re not going to be the same hero anyone remembers. The Corps has been through a lot in the last year, but things are only about to get even more chaotic in a post-Absolute Power DC Universe.

While the DCU at large has mostly been impacted by Amanda Waller’s actions, the Green Lantern’s lives have been upended by Lord Premier Thaaros, leader of the United Planets and current head of the Green Lantern Corps. Thaaros’ actions have been reprehensible and have even gotten his own Lanterns killed. But as “Civil Corps” approaches, one such Lantern is coming back, with a brand-new allegiance.

Green Lantern Kilowog is Back – As a Sinestro Corps Member

Fall is just around the corner and soon DC Comics’ brand-new publishing initiative DC All In will be here to shake up the DCU. Some series like Batman and Robin and Green Arrow will be getting new creative teams. This fall’s also going to see the debut of new books like JSA, Black Lightning, and Black Canary: Best of the Best. But fans of the current Green Lantern book can take comfort that Jeremy Adams and Xermánico are continuing their epic space saga.

October’s solicitations promised a new chapter in the Green Lantern mythos called “Civil Corps” which would see Lord Premiere Thaaros bringing down hell on Hal Jordan and his allies to retrieve John Stewart’s mysterious new Dark Star Ring. Those solicitations also promised Thaaros would be sending “a surprising foe” to retrieve the ring. While the solicited text for Green Lantern #16 hinted at a Red Lantern version of the living planet Mogo, DC Comics’ latest solicitation batch hints at another surprising face from the past.

Simone Di Meo provides a cover for November’s Green Lantern #17, which showcases a giant battle between several big-name Lanterns. Hal and John face off against Jessica Cruz, who seems to be on the same side as the Red Lantern Sinestro. But most surprising is the appearance of Kilowog, the Green Lantern Corps’ drill instructor who seemingly died several months back. Not only is Kilowog alive, but he appears to be a full member of the Sinestro Corps as he faces off with Green Lantern Jo Mullein.

What Happened to Kilowog (And What’s Happened Since)

The Green Lantern Corps’ previous leaders, the Guardians of the Universe, suddenly disappeared after Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths. Leadership of the organization was handed to the United Planets, particularly Lord Premier Thaaros. Thaaros made sweeping changes to the Corps, including the quarantining of Sector 2814 (to the dismay of all Earth-based Lanterns). Thaaros later had Hal and Kilowog escort him to New Korugar to work out a peace treaty with the Sinestro Corps. Unfortunately, the Sinestro Corps Central Power Battery exploded, killing Kilowog.

Blaming himself for what happened to Kilowog, Jordan retired from the Corps and returned to Earth. Hal was so saddened by what happened to Kilowog, he even created a lifelike construct of his friend to help process his grief. What Jordan didn’t know, however, was that the person to blame for Kilowog’s death was actually Thaaros. Thaaros had a mad plan to access the power of the mysterious Source Lantern and to do that, Thaaros needed to gain total control of the Emotional Spectrum.

The Sinestro Corps was just the first to fall. As Thaaros began to reshape the corps to his liking, he had his Lanterns take out the Red Lanterns, the Blue Lanterns, the sole Orange Lantern, and even the Star Sapphires. Thaaros’ influence over the Emotional Spectrum grew and his United Planets Lanterns developed the power to channel different lights. However, the damage to the Spectrum has caused it to react in unexpected ways, namely developing new lights associated with new emotions like sadness.

Why is Kilowog Back and What Does Him Being a Yellow Lantern Mean?

It’s no secret that death isn’t a permanent thing in comic books. But to be fair, Kilowog’s body was never shown. The Sinestro Corps Central Power Battery exploded, but beyond that, all fans had was Jordan’s word that his friend was dead. And Hal very well could believe that. Assuming Kilowog survived the explosion in the first place, it wouldn’t be beyond the scheming and malevolent Thaaros to keep Kilowog hidden somewhere secret until Thaaros had a use for him.

Thaaros having control over Kilowog would also explain why the long-standing Green Lantern is suddenly wearing yellow. Yes, the Emotional Spectrum is in flux right now, but Thaaros was the one who made it possible for his Lanterns to access different lights in the first place. The real question is why Kilowog is yellow at all. Perhaps Thaaros feels it’s a better color for him or maybe being caught in the Sinestro Corps Central Power Battery had a permanent effect on Kilowog.

Whatever the reason behind Kilowog’s palette swap, the true tragedy here is that Kilowog is going up against his oldest friends. Kilowog has known people like Hal, John, and Kyle longer than most other Lanterns and he’s always trusted them with his life. Now Kilowog seems to be working for the worst person whose ever been in charge of the Green Lantern Corps. It’s one thing if Kilowog is under some kind of mind control, but this change will be even more heartbreaking if working for Thaaros is Kilowog’s choice.

Can the Green Lanterns Trust Kilowog Anymore?

The Green Lantern Corps has become a shadow of its former self. Nothing would show how low the organization has fallen than Kilowog, one of the best Green Lanterns to ever wear a Power Ring, suddenly became an enforcer for an outright fascist like Thaaros. Maybe there’s a chance that Thaaros is using Kilowog and using some form of control on him. But if not, then the Green Lanterns have no choice but to treat this once stalwart Green Lantern like the threat he is now.

Green Lantern #17 is available on November 13th, 2024 from DC Comics.